Tag: Babel

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The End of the Personified City

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“He gave a mighty shout: “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal. For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her passionate immorality. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her. Because of her desires for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭18‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Babylon, the great city of antiquity. Bible Study Tools writes, “As Nimrod began his reign, he and his followers had one overriding goal for their new territory; they wanted to ensure the security of their community by building a prestigious landmark to make a name for themselves. “Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4). And includes an interesting note, “The ancient historian Josephus states of Nimrod, ‘He also said he would be revenged on God if he should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach and that he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 1, Chapter 4).”

It all seems so oddly paradoxical, that the Vegas of ancient days became more than just a city, Nimrod built an alternative to God’s way – thus an option to a different salvation for humanity. What other option? The option of doing things my way, saving myself. The underpinnings of that thought, that subtle lie is this: I CHOOSE sin over salvation. Translation: God, I can save myself, if you don’t mind!

Babel, then later Babylon became the personification of the great lie, along with the great liar – Satan. Satan is the governor of Babylon. The city, the way of life, the culture and self determined religion, doesn’t just survive – it thrives in pockets all over the globe. You can see it in every “ism” that is known. Not just communism, fascism, socialism and even capitalism. ISM, might as well stand for “I Save Myself!” America struggles with five dangerous “isms”: humanism, pragmatism, materialism, secularism and relativism. All of the “ism’s” are distinctive doctrines, systems, or theories, simply beliefs on how to do life.

Babylon spawned years of tower-building philosophies of how to “out-god” God! But John, the revelator, is shown the destruction of the evil city and the systems, a “home for demons.” And it won’t happen until the end. The spirit, the arrogance, the perpetual lie will continue until the final days. As believers, we have been warned throughout all history NOT to go there, visit there and absolutely not live there and believe in the city motto: “to thine own self be true.” Remember in Shakespeare’s play, Polonius, himself was a pompous, hypocritical, and empty man. Jesus, alternatively said this, “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it. But whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Mat 16:25. The antidote to sin isn’t self, it’s Jesus’ sacrifice and we will not find it in Babylon.

Prayer

Dad,
I’ve seen Babylon alive and well, living within my own soul. I do not intend to make it my permanent home. I will choose the New Jerusalem instead, the city of God. I will choose heaven as my final destination and to do so means daily dying to self and having you, and only you SAVE me. Thank you for your grace, mercy and enduring, endless, patience towards me. Amen.

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Ghosts of an ancient city.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted, “Just like this, the great city Babylon will be thrown down with violence and will never be found again.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This very old, ancient city, shows up early in the Old Testament in Genesis 11 as Babel, and has echoes of its infamy all the way to the end of all things, in Revelation. Its original name means confusion, because God disrupted human language. Moses wrote, “Look!” he [God] said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!” (Vs.6). The power of common language and unity meant they could accomplish anything they wanted. What did they want? They wanted to live, build and create everything without God! The physical rebellion, fueled by sin and Satan would be enormous. Yet, God let the city and the geopolitical object lesson stand throughout time.

Babylon had many of the most wicked, tyrannical leaders of all time. Even up to 1986 in modern Iraq, Saddam Hussein tried to rebuild Babylon by building the main palace and surrounding courtyard, he did so in honor of the ancient leaders 3000 years before him. He clearly wanted to resurrect the power and purpose of the city.

All of this has been fully known that John saw and wrote about Babylon’s final destruction at the end of all days. Revelation spends a WHOLE CHAPTER warning us of why God despised the city, the epitome of evil. John wrote about the city’s reputation and exactly what it represented: “She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal. For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her passionate immorality. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her. Because of her desires for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich.” Revelation‬ ‭18‬:‭2‬b-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬. This unbridled, unbounded lust for everything humanity sets up as success. This ultimate sin city of achieving and receiving everything the heart desires. All of which is fed, fueled and fulfilled by Satan and our own human appetite for SELF.

No wonder Babylon is seen as the Satan’s playground! It’s not so much the physical location as it is the spiritual identity this city represents. God tells John, it’s all going down to the depths of the ocean. All the parties, the dancing and music. All the spoils of rich rewards – “She bought great quantities of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; things made of fragrant thyine wood, ivory goods, and objects made of expensive wood; and bronze, iron, and marble. She also bought cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, wagons, and bodies—that is, human slaves.” It will all be tossed. Why? Are these items evil? Is it the singing, dancing, celebration with music and laughter that is evil? Yes, the enslavement of humans is clearly evil, but what about all that’s listed as the stuff humans like? What is so wrong about a city that fulfills all your wants and desires?

The city represents all that is promised OUTSIDE of God himself. It represents the gluttonous, selfish consumption of “good” in deference to God’s provision, life and blessings. The city represents the same old promise of all that we crave, completely lacking the fulfillment of true love, real life and especially God himself. Babylon is the lie of all lies, promising to bring fulfillment to life itself – without God. No matter how good it sounds, looks, smells or feels – its end is putrid emptiness.

Our modern life, our cool high-tech, fast paced, every desire celebrated culture is a giant city of Babylon. And it’s a massive cache of bitcoin that will vanish because it’s all fake. Read Revelation 11, see what John saw. It’s a lie that will be flushed and forgotten! Is God a buzzkill, a party crusher, a downer on happiness? Absolutely not! God just knows us, loves us and wants us to have the real thing – real joy, real peace, real love. It’s only found IN Him, not without Him.

Prayer

Dad,
Oh, that we would know You. Oh, that we could see the difference between fake and real, the difference between the city of Jerusalem and Babylon! One, the city of God, the other the home of demons. I am so thankful that you have given me life and all that is good. I am thrilled that you have forgiven, even forgotten my sin, my shame. I want my life to be 100% hidden in Christ and Him alone! Thank you.

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Benefits of unity in community.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

““But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him; they would be doomed forever. But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭81‬:‭11‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Asaph pens this Psalm at the time of the second temple dedication. Israel had been through 70 years of captivity with little or no national coherence or cohesion. And worse, some Israelites somehow stayed in the Jerusalem area and intermarried with the locals which caused a major racial and cultural rift within their humiliated country.

We know Babylon was discipline and correction from God, but what is much more difficult to sort out is these psalmic promises from God. If… big if, Israel had stayed true to God, it is likely that none of their national conflicts would have happened. There are many writings in Psalms and the Prophetic books like Isaiah and Jeremiah where God BEGS His chosen people to stay on track and quit chasing after other loves! Crystal clear message, follow God and He will fight the big fights for you.

My question and dilemma is… is that still true today. Is there a possibility that following God, staying on the straight and definitely narrow yields a certain amount of protection, even blessing? Before you answer, “of course it does,” remember Jesus and the leaders of the first century church outright told us, in this world we would have tribulation, and to be of good cheer. Jesus straight told us that believers would be hated for the message He brought, specifically because of Him. Yet, it still makes me think about this whole idea of sticking close to God and letting Him fight the big battles.

Are these promises for us as individuals or are they for us as communities of believers? Because if the promises of subduing enemies and God’s hands being on our foes is for the community of faith MORE than just on us as individuals, I would think we would be far more attentive to sticking together! If, for one moment, we behaved with a sense of unity and care for one another, I wonder if we would have a greater sense of God’s presence and protection? You realize that God disrupted the ancient city of Babel specifically because they were completely unified? Of course they were unified in godless pursuits, but Genesis 11 tells us it that unity in and of itself is powerful! ““Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.””

I imagine that unity in and for Godly pursuits would not only be unstoppable, it would also be far easier to see God’s Kingdom come and His will be done! I absolutely believe that God would bless our unity in the Church. And as long as we are fractured, divided and continue to treat one another with horrible religious contempt, we will not accomplish what God has for the Church. Yet, even in our flawed self-serving, divisive zealousness, God will have His way. I trust Him. I just wish believers would all get along and quit thrashing each other, especially in the cultural courts of social media. I am sick of it!

Prayer

Dad,
Our present state of unity in the Church just makes me sick to my stomach! I see the promises in the Psalms and I long for the protection you would provide, but I long for a unified community far more than just a lack of attacks on our faith. Maybe that’s why you pour out your Spirit at specific times, just to bring about our sense of being together. Together in praise and worship. Together in mission of making disciples. Together in the flow of your will, your desires. Help us Oh Lord.